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Smartphones: Children and Young People

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled Answered 15 July 2025UIN 65435

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support (a) parents and (b) teachers who are concerned about smartphone use (i) children and (ii) teenagers.

Answered by Feryal Clark

By the end of this month the Online Safety Act will bring in protections for children to make sure their experiences are appropriate for their age.

Ofcom – the Act’s regulator - has set out measures for services to take to comply with the Act’s child safety duties, and will consider parental controls for future iterations Codes.

The Department for Education has issued guidance on mobile phones in schools to support teachers, and the UK Chief Medical Officers have published advice to support parents on children’s screen use.

This is the foundation, we will not hesitate to go further, to ensure the children’s safety online.

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